Thermostatic Balancing
Thermostatic balancing valves are a key component in many Commercial Plumbing/HVAC, Industrial, and Aerospace & Defense applications where many heating/cooling loads are being supplied by a single source of hot and/or cold water or other fluid. Although these loads all have the same temperature requirement, they are typically different distances away from the fluid source. This distance causes them to experience various heat losses as the fluid is pumped to their specific locations.
The fluid in these lines will migrate to the path of least resistance and starve the other loads from receiving the proper flow to offset the heat loss in their particular branch. To prevent this, the system needs to be “balanced.”
Traditionally, this balancing has been done by flow devices such as manual balancing valves or constant flow valves. However, the problem with manually balancing a cooling water system is that it takes an unnecessarily long time and is not always accurate in dynamic systems with fluctuating pressures, wasting time and money in balancing procedures and equipment.
ThermOmegaTech® offers thermostatic balancing valves that automatically modulate and regulate flow through a system in response to temperature variations to provide precise and uniform temperatures to all branches. It is a temperature device solving a temperature problem.
Thermostatic Balancing of Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Systems
Recirculating domestic hot water systems (DHWS) distribute hot water to point-of-use fixtures throughout a building. DHWS are typically used in facilities with a high capacity of people, like hotels, hospitals, schools, multi-family homes, apartments, and high-rise buildings. These systems need to be balanced to ensure immediate and continuous availability of hot water at every fixture. People don’t want to wait minutes before their showers and faucets begin to heat up to a comfortable temperature. However, supplying hot water to every unit can be tricky for buildings that aren’t balanced correctly.
CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic balancing valve installed at the end of each hot water supply branch in a DHWS. Self-actuating, this valve automatically and continuously adjusts flow to maintain the specified temperature at the fixtures. When the specified water temperature is satisfied, the valve closes, allowing only a small flow bypass to the return line. This constant low flow rate prevents dead-heading the recirculation pump.
Thermal balancing is recommended for these types of systems not only because it evenly distributes hot water to every fixture but it is also one of the most reliable solutions for water hygiene. The valves automatically keep high-temperature water in the supply lines, which helps to protect against pathogen growth.
Thermal Balancing of Cooling Equipment and Systems
Injection, rubber, and plastic molding equipment, die casting, and platen processes all require proper cooling to provide uniform temperatures and consistent product quality. Different types of cooling towers and systems can be used for these applications, many of which have multiple cooling loads or zones that need to be balanced.
The HAT/RA-LP can be used as a thermostatic balancing valve to dynamically regulate the cooling water, glycol, or other cooling media outlet temperature in these systems.
The TV/HAT-RA-LP works as an after-flow controller installed on the cooling water outlet of the equipment. The valve modulates open and closed to maintain a relatively constant outlet water temperature.
The thermal actuator in the valves continuously senses the fluid temperature. As the temperature rises above the valve’s set-point, the valve will modulate open, allowing the cooling media to flow through it. When the desired fluid temperature is reached, the valve will modulate closed again. This process conserves water and improves the consistency of product quality.
